Barkley Sound, situated between Port Alberni and Bamfield, is a scuba diver’s dream. It’s a true highlight of the Port Alberni tourism industry, with clear water and tidal changes that allow for excellent visibility and distinct marine life. Throughout history, many navigators confused Barkley Sound with the Juan de Fuca Strait, resulting in numerous shipwrecks on reefs and islands. Today, Barkley Sound is known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” as it has over 60 shipwrecks.
Barkley Sound’s most famous shipwreck is the Vanlene, a Panamanian freighter which struck Austin Island in 1972. The Vanlene was shipping 300 Dodge Colts from Japan to Washington when a combination of dense fog and broken navigational aids led to its demise. A portion of the ship remained above water, so most of the Colts were recovered, but 53,000 gallons of fuel oil leaked into Barkley Sound. A few years later, a nasty storm knocked the ship off her perch and sent her entirely into the water. The wreck is suitable for advanced divers and has a maximum depth of 30 metres. Chartering a boat out of Port Alberni is the most straightforward way to get to the Vanlene.
Another great dive site out of Port Alberni is the wreck of the Thiepval, a Battle class naval trawler used by the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1930, she struck an uncharted rock in Barkley Sound while on patrol duty. Divers from Port Alberni didn’t discover the wreck until almost 30 years later, and eventually recovered her deck gun, which is now displayed in Ucluelet. The Thiepval is often visited by diving charters within the Port Alberni tourism industry, as it is a shallow, safe dive site that is coated in marine life.
In 1975, the Orpheus was sailing from San Fransisco to Nanaimo when it collided with the SS Pacific near Cape Flattery. Both ships continued their course, but the Pacific quickly sank, leaving only two survivors. The Orpheus made it to Barkley Sound, but soon ran aground, with zero casualties. The Orpheus now lies under 40 to 80 feet of water; the Pacific’s wreckage was never found. Divers at the Orpheus site can still see mast rings, plates, porcelain door knobs, a pile of ballast stone and an anchor.
Scuba diving is fundamental to the Port Alberni tourism industry. The exciting marine life, reefs and shipwrecks of Barkley Sound are explored by divers from all over the world. The dive shops in Port Alberni are generally open in all seasons, and offer dive certification courses as well as charter services.
Barkley Sound, situated close to Port Alberni, is home to over 60 shipwrecks. To learn on their history and how to access them, read this fascinating article on the Port Alberni tourism industry.